I'm Thankful For...

My boys!
Jacob Ryan was welcomed into the world on November 27, 1994 weighing 6lbs. 11oz. after 13 hours of labor!  Jacob was given to me by the Lord for one reason; so I could experience love first hand! Wow, what a feeling it was to hold my baby boy for the very first time!  A feeling so indescribable.  I couldn't be happier! 

Jacob was this wonderful child who brought me such joy.  He slept, pretty much, the whole night through beginning at two months old.  So cute, a little button nose and the chubbiest cheeks you'd ever seen.  He was the 'mature' little boy, if you will.  He always seemed to know the right things to say to me when I cried, or seemed upset. He'd put his hands together and pray with me and for me.  Talk about sweetness at it's best! 

Jacob did have a little mischievous side to him.  Especially when it came to both his Great Grandpas!  Easy targets, I guess.  Jacob was a bright kid who caught on to anything and everything really fast!  Grandpa Gomez would take the time to play with Jacob when he wasn't outside smoking or talking to us about the war for the fiftieth time!  Jacob loved playing with 'Popo Gomez'.  Grandpa would take the time to wheel around in his wheelchair (yes in his wheelchair) and play catch with Jake.  So sweet of him!  He'd put the 'brake' on and they'd toss the ball back and forth to each other. Every once in a while Jacob would toss the ball a little harder and it would roll right past Grandpa. Grandpa would try to reach for it and mumble a word or two in his deep, country sounding voice.  Usually, it was "Boy! One day, I'ma git up from here and gitcha!"  Jacob would just laugh, go get the ball and hand it to Grandpa. Jacob was about 4 or 5 years old around this time. One day as the duo team played, Jacob thought it would be hilarious to secretly 'undo the brake' to Grandpa's wheel chair, throw the ball a little hard (because he knew Grandpa would try to go for it) and watch him 'slide into home plate' better known as 'eat the floor'!  Popo did just that!  Jacob rolled in laughter as Grandpa picked his 6 foot self up off the ground!  I couldn't believe my sweet, little Jacob did that!  What did Grandpa do?  Laughed, and continued playing ball with him!  That's the type of man he was!  Just amazing in his own way.  Loved us kids with all of his heart!  I would've knocked the crap outta the kid! lol

The intelligent child, for years, would play cards with his other Great Grandpa Tacho.  I've previously talked about Jacob's 'gaming' skills while playing Uno with 'Grandpa T'. No need to go into detail about how Jacob could see all of Grandpa's cards through the glare in his glasses and would win EVERY TIME!  lol  The same went for any other card game they played!  As far as Grandpa was concerned Jacob was brilliant!  (hmmm... I wonder why?)

Today Jacob is a talented, handsome, young man full of life.  He still makes me laugh and can even make me cry, but our love is stronger than ever!  I'm thankful for Jacob every day of my life!

Jacob was such a great baby, I thought, "I could do this a million times! pffft!  No problem! Bring on another baby!"  What was I thinking??!??!  After months of struggle, illness, premature labor, needles, tears, and wanting to yank this kid out of me, Austin was finally evicted from his comfortable home after only 6 hours of labor on July 3, 2000. Weighing in at a whopping 8lbs., 1oz, I thought, and felt, like they had opened me from the front of my neck to the back of my neck!  He was huge!  All head, I might add! He couldn't possibly be mine, but there was no way to prove that!  He went from his first home directly into his new home- my arms!  That was it!  I was butter.  So precious!  Every ounce of me was in love all over again!  And I was happy to be alive after that evil pregnancy that consumed my life for nine months! Ugh, pure nirvana- that is, until we got home and had no help! 

Austin James was my cry baby!  And he hardly ever slept which meant he cried ALL THE TIIIIIME!  He managed to cry with a bottle in his mouth! Up all night, every night left me no choice but to move in with my Grandma!  It was either that, or I would be putting up my 'Child for sale' sign! She was my life savor!  I was excited when I'd get 30 minutes of straight sleep!  lol No one was allowed to go into Austin's room while he was sleeping or napping.  It was like waking the beast!  I'd get everything done as quickly as possible because I knew once he woke, it was over! He'd be attached to my hip and crying in my ear!  It's amazing how I learned to tune him out! To this day, I still don't really hear him! lol This cutest memory I have of Austin is when he'd wake up crying, he'd look around and if he didn't see me peeking through the door, he'd sit in his crib and play with his toys.  But as soon as he heard an inkling of noise, I would freeze!!!  He'd quickly stand up in his crib (barely able to look over the rails, hair messed up falling into his eyes), look around and....yup...you guessed it... start to cry!  Holy Moly!  This kid would not shut up!!!  lol

Austin is my loving child!  He loves to be next too me, loves to sleep next to me, loves holding my hand, loves reading with me and loves just spending time with me! He must feel really guilty for the intro he made into this life! Austin is very competitive, very smart, talented, kind-hearted and loves to laugh.  He loves going to church with me.  I tend to tell folks that he's my 'holy roller'!  A beautiful child inside and out. 

Today, A.J. is just as competitive as always, loves sports, baking, playing games and entering contests in school, which he's received many trophies and awards for.  He's giving, caring and when he's not getting lost in the neighborhood, he enjoys playing ball, trying to outdo his brother, playing games or doing something with me!  Thankfully, he doesn't cry as much any more! lol

Together Jacob and Austin complete me.  They are the very reason I wake up each morning.  They make me who I am and give me strength where and when strength is needed.  When my days have gone all wrong, I know that my days will end with pure joy because I have these two wonderful human beings in my life.  I am thankful and honored to be their mommy!